Betty Sue Windham Bird

Betty Sue O'Donnell Windham Bird, age 90, passed away peacefully on March 21, 2011. Betty Sue was born to Patrick C. and Willie Madison O'Donnell in Ovett, MS. on January 12, 1921. She grew up in Ellisville, MS. and after marrying Hilton Windham, moved to the Gulf Coast, living in Biloxi and Ocean Springs for the past 60 years. Betty Sue worked in the banking industry for many years; First National Bank of Biloxi, now Bancorp South and Gulf National Bank. She ended her career working for the Sun Herald, greeting everyone as they entered the building with her pretty smile. She was a member of the First Baptist Church, Ocean Springs, and was a 50 year member of Beta Sigma Phi, Alpha Master Chapter, serving as President several times. She also was a member of United Daughters of the Confederacy, serving as a hostess at Beauvoir. She enjoyed modeling for then "Gayfers" through the years and was very talented, sewing the girls clothes while in school and drawing and designing all the decorations for club functions. Betty Sue was preceded in death by her first husband, John Hilton Windham and then by her second husband, Herman F. Bird, a brother, Patrick C. O'Donnell, Jr. and by her beloved daughter, Patricia "Patti" Windham. Survivors include her daughter, Sue Windham Jones and son-in-law, Moreno of Ocean Springs, three grandchildren, Susan (Mark) Sutera of Ocean Springs, David (Jenine) Jones of Hurley, and Kevin (Ann) Jones of Ocean Springs, great-grandchildren, Elizabeth (Joseph) Lizana, Patrick, Gabriel, Hope and Zach Jones; Lauren and Jonathan Sutera; Megan Jones, Tyler Moore and Anthony Wisdom and one great-great-grandson, Logan Lizana. Visitation will be on Thursday, March 24, 2011, from 10 am until 11 am, with an 11 am chapel service, all at the Ocean Springs Chapel of Bradford O'Keefe Funeral Home. Interment will follow in Ellisville Cemetery in Ellisville, MS. at 2 pm following the service. The family would like to thank Ms. Erica James and the entire staff at Settler's Cove for the love and care they provided to "Ms. Sue" in the final days of her life. Also heartfelt thanks to Southern Care Hospice nurse Amber and her assistant.